In today’s world, it’s almost impossible to survive without using a credit card. If you find you must use one, find the card that will benefit you as you spend. Travel rewards credit cards that help you earn points towards flights, hotels and other travel expenses are an excellent way to enjoy vacations without breaking the bank.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
This is an option for people who do a lot of traveling. If not, this card (with its $450 annual fee) probably wont be a great fit. There are a large number of benefits associated with this particular card which include a travel reimbursement of up to $300 to offset any travel expenses you have accumulated over the previous year. You can easily book trips with chase; however, if you book elsewhere you have the ability to transfer your points to numerous airlines and hotels at a 1:1 ratio. You will receive three points for every dollar you spend on dining or restaurants and one point for ever dollar spent everywhere else. There are sign-up bonuses, reimbursement for TSA pre-check and a plethora of other things you gain by using this card. It’s worth a look if you’re planning to spend more than $300 traveling during the year.
Capital One Venture Rewards
An article written by Paul Soucy and Joe Cortez for nerdwallet.com states, “You can redeem miles for statement credit against most travel expenses. You’re not restricted to one airline or hotel…and unlike with many cards, there’s no minimum amount required to redeem — so you can even use rewards to pay for a $5 cab ride. Just book your own travel, then pay for it with rewards. The sign-up bonus is awesome, too: Enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel.”
Bank of America Premium Rewards
If you are a Bank of America user, have a large balance in your band or investment account (around $100,000) AND like to travel, this card is perfect for you. Not all of those are required, but having all three will help you maximize the travel rewards you receive. The perks of this card include two points per dollar spent on travel and dining and one point per dollar spent anywhere else. They seem to have an extremely broad definition of ‘travel expenses’ which can include things like the zoo, amusement parks and museums. This will help you maximize the amount of money you will be reimbursed. You also have the option to exchange your travel points for cash back. There is a $95 annual fee; however, this card has the potential to pay for itself in no time at all.
If you have to use a credit card, you may as well reap the benefits of travel points along the way. Find a card that fits your needs and use the perks to help you fulfill your Wanderlust.